Men's Basketball Inks Three During NCAA Early Signing Period

[KFDM COOP]

Men's Basketball Inks Three During NCAA Early Signing Period

The signees include Brandon Moton, who prepped at Beaumont Central HS, Charlie Harper and Skyler Williams.

Dec. 14, 2007

BEAUMONT - Lamar University signed three players during the early signing period, including local product Brandon Moton who prepped at Central High School, to national letters-of-intent to continue their education and play men's basketball for the Cardinals, announced Head Coach Steve Roccaforte.

In addition to Moton, Charlie Harper of San Antonio Madison High School and Skyler Williams of Chipola College will be joining the Cardinals for the 2008-09 season next fall.

A 6-4, 200 pound guard, Moton was a three-time first-team all-district performer at Central, where he was coached by former Lamar player Calvin Rice. He was a Top 50 players in the state of Texas as a senior and was a James Gamble Award nominee and a McDonald's All-America nominee.

Moton, who is a sophomore at Angelina College this year, averaged 9.4 ppg, 1.6 rpg and 1.3 apg as a freshman last season. He shot 43 percent from the field, 41 percent from three-point range and 70 percent from the free throw line. He led Angelina with 55 3-pointers made.

A 6-4, 185-pound guard, Harper has helped Madison win to straight district championships and advance to the Class 5A semifinals last season. He averaged 8.0 ppg last season and was an honorable mention all-district performer. Madison is ranked among the Top 20 Class 5A teams in the state.

Harper, who is a three-year varsity letterwinner, is ranked as the 48th best prospect in the state by Texas Roundball and 72nd by Texas Hoops. He played for the San Antonio AAU team last summer where he averaged 17.5 ppg and 10.0 rpg. He helped lead the team to the 2007 Las Vegas Main Event championship.

Williams, a 6-2, 190-pound guard, averaged 4.8 ppg, 2.5 rpg and 1.1 spg as a freshman last season at Chipola College, which was ranked No. 1 in the NJCAA Top 25 poll much of the year and advanced to the NJCAA National Championship game. He shot 43 percent from the field, 38 percent from 3-point range and 65 percent from the free throw line. Williams is redshirting this season which will give him three years of eligibility at Lamar.

 

A native of Dublin, Ga., Williams prepped at East Laurens High School where he was also one of the top quarterbacks in the state. Chipola College, who has had six players sign early to play next year at four-year institutions, is off to a 14-0 start this season and is ranked as the No. 1 team in the country.

Lamar Men's Basketball 2008-09 Early Signing Recruiting Class

Charlie Harper, G, 6-4, 185, San Antonio, Texas/Madison HS

Brandon Moton, G, 6-4, 200, Beaumont, Texas/Angelina College

Skyler Williams, G, 6-2, 190, Dublin, GA/Chipola College

[Guest mffl]

We need a 6'10+ center. Somebody who can play in the paint.

[KFDM COOP]

You are right!

[Guest abovetherim]

Mffl, I agree we need a big man badly. Could use him this season. Looks like a lot of people already knew the three players who signed. I was obviously wrong about signing a PF/C type but so was the person who told me. I like Moton and the young man from SA. If Williams can be healthy, he sounds like a great athlete. I saw some video of him playing QB in HS. He was a stud!

I am for sure about this, Coy Custer has a 4.0 GPA and I'd have him on a academic scholarship. So, there is one scholarship available and if Matt Barrow doesn't improve next semester I'd say congratulations, here is your degree and use that scholarship too. I think Lamar will sign at least two more players and possibly more.

This isn't the type of class that just makes you say, wow! But, we've had those classes and look at our teams record. This may prove to be a very good class. We won't know till they get here next season.

Kerry, thanks for having my back. The issue I discussed with you has improved so I'll be available more now. Thanks for posting the article!

[Guest coachacola]

So, there is one scholarship available and if Matt Barrow doesn't improve next semester I'd say congratulations, here is your degree and use that scholarship too.

Isn't there a new rule that if a player gets his degree in 4 years and still has a year of eligiblity left like Barrow does due to a redshirt year, he can play next year at a D1 school without sitting out another year?  Maybe he'll take that route.

[westendfirst]

Isn't there a new rule that if a player gets his degree in 4 years and still has a year of eligiblity left like Barrow does due to a redshirt year, he can play next year at a D1 school without sitting out another year?  Maybe he'll take that route.

I don't know but this list is unimpressive.  The kid from Central may be pretty good but the other two???  One is a undersized football player and the other was being recruited by Division II schools???  Looks like 4 more years of losses to me.

[Guest mffl]

Isn't there a new rule that if a player gets his degree in 4 years and still has a year of eligiblity left like Barrow does due to a redshirt year, he can play next year at a D1 school without sitting out another year?  Maybe he'll take that route.

He's a Prop 48 ( i believe they call it that) senior. Meaning since he didn't play his freshmen year... (i'm guessing academic reasons) then he'll gain an extra of eligibility. Chris Daniels, the Center from TAMUCC is also a Prop 48 senior, with this year being his last year of eligibility.

[Guest coachacola]

I'm not impressed with this list either.  But the so-called highly rated recruiting classes from the last 3 or 4 years haven't worked out so well either so who knows how good these guys will be.